Check the issue date on your certified copy. To qualify for a Texas apostille, a Texas birth or marriage record must have been issued less than five years ago. Use the date the records office issued the copy. The birth or marriage itself may have taken place decades earlier. See Texas Secretary of State document requirements.
What I check before you mail your certificate
I’m Margie Kaplan with Texas Apostille Notary in Austin. When someone asks whether they can use the certificate they already have, I start with two questions.
Which office issued your certified copy? Look for the state or local records office on a birth certificate, or the issuing county clerk on a marriage license.
When did that office issue the copy? Look for the issue or certification date near the official’s signature or seal. The Texas Secretary of State needs to verify the issuing official’s signature. If your copy is five years old or older, request a newly issued certified copy.
Where do I order a new certified copy?
Texas birth certificate. Texas Vital Statistics lists an average of 20–25 business days for online orders, plus shipping. If a family member in Texas can help, ask the records office whether they qualify to request your copy in person and what identification they’ll need. Check current Texas Vital Statistics processing times.
Texas marriage license. Ask the county clerk in the county that issued the license for a newly issued certified copy. Check with the clerk for ordering options and turnaround. A marriage verification letter is a different document from a certified copy of the marriage license. See Texas marriage record guidance.
Can I use a scan, photocopy, or notarized copy?
A scan can help us review what you have. For the apostille request itself, you’ll need an eligible certified copy issued by the records office. A photocopy or a copy certified by a notary cannot substitute for it.
What should I do before shipping my certificate?
We must review your document before you ship it. Start with an apostille quote request. Tell us which office issued your certified copy, when it was issued, where you’ll use it, and when you need it back. We’ll tell you how to share it for review and where to send the original once it’s approved.
If you’re ordering a replacement, check with us before directing the records office to ship it to our office. Once your approved document is on its way, please send us the carrier and tracking number so we can watch for delivery.
Can I get it apostilled the same day?
Same-day state processing may be available once we receive and approve an eligible certified copy. If you need to order a new copy or ship it to Austin, build that time into your deadline. Return delivery is separate from state processing.
Request a Texas Apostille Quote
Tell us whether you have a birth or marriage record, who issued your certified copy, when it was issued, where it will be used, and when you need it back.